Staying Well. Connected.

25th Annual Update In Medicine Conference

UT Health Science Center at San Antonio – Laredo Campus Extension hosted AHEC’s (the Area Health Education Center of Mid Rio Grande Border Area of Texas, Inc.), 25TH annual update in medicine conference on October 16-17.

The two day event offered continuing education credits to physicians, nurses, social workers and nurse practitioners. The featured topics consisted of topics on abuse, autism, cancer, dementia, depression, COPD, MRSA, STD’s and TB outbreaks. 

Keith Cogdill, from UT HSC Briscoe Library presented a PubMed Review training session for our local doctors. The PubMed participants received a special hands-on training about the PubMed database.

The CDC has recently launched this year’s “Get Smart: Know When Antibiotics Work” program. Intended for health professionals and the general public, the education program reminds about appropriate use of antibiotics and the threat of antibiotic resistance from overuse of antibiotics. The goal of the program is to reduce unnecessary prescribing and to modify the attitudes and behavior of the general public about when antibiotics are truly necessary. The program, introduced in 2003 is comprehensive and includes a media campaign (including a virtual press kit and materials designed for Spanish-speakers and American Indian audiences), funding and technical assistance for several state and local partners to develop, implement, and evaluate local campaigns, as well as television and radio public service announcements (PSAs) for use in local markets. Educational materials and information are available on the the “Get Smart” website at http://cdc.gov/getsmart/.

The Knapp Medical Center Foundation in Weslaco, Texas recently kicked off its first Design for a Cure fundraising campaign.  This campaign inivited members of the community to design a bra around a theme related to breast cancer research and awareness.  All entries will be voted on, and a winner will be announced at the end of October.  The cost per vote is $1.00, and all proceeds from the contest will be used to provide mammograms to indigent women in the community. 

Staff at the Mario E. Ramirez, M.D. Library at the UTHSC Regional Academic Health Center in Harlingen submitted an entry called “LiBRArians: Surfing for a Cure”.  The design reflects the “support” role that librarians play in assisting biomedical researchers and clinicians in their efforts to find a cure for breast cancer.  To view the contest entries and vote for your favorite design, please visit: http://vmstar.upickem.net/engine/ApprovedSubmissions.aspx?PageType=APPROVED&contestid=10602.

Approximately 175 promotores, or community health workers, from the Rio Grande Valley, Reynosa, and other areas of South Texas convened for the 4th Binational Conference for Promotores de Salud on Friday, October 2 in South Padre Island, Texas.  The conference was centered around the theme, “Healthy Minds, Healthy Bodies” and included programs which touched on a variety of mental health topics.  Dr. Ana Nogales, a clinical psychologist and author of Latina Power, served as the keynote speaker. 

The conference was organized by the staff of the Mario E. Ramirez, M.D. Library in partnership with several local community health agencies and the NN/LM SCR.   For more information, please visit the Conference Web site.

9th Annual Breast Cancer Forum and Survivor Fashio Show – Laredo, Texas 6-8 P.M.                                                     

On Tuesday, October 6, 2009, The UT Health Science Center – Laredo Campus Extension in collaboration with Doctors Hospital, American Cancer Society and Joe Brand hosted the 9th Annual Breast Cancer Public Forum and Survivor Fashion Show. 

It was an exciting night as 250 Laredo Community participants were able to ask local doctors Dr. Gary Unzeitig, Dr.  Eduardo Miranda, Dr. Manuel Joval, and Dr. Sylvia Gutierrez their questions and concerns pertaining to Breast Cancer.

The UT Medical library participated at this event with a booth and handed out information about consumer health and Medline Plus.

On Friday, September 25, staff from the University of Texas Health Science Center Libraries participated in an exhibit at the Family Alliance Conference. Organized by the Texas AgriLife Extension, Family Alliance Council and Texas A&M University, System Center in San Antonio, the conference united educators, parents and community agencies with the theme, “Academic Success: Community and Parents as Partners”. The library staff promoted several of the National Library of Medicine’s health information resources. We handed out bookmarks, flyers and pens about MedlinePlus and mentioned the MedlinePlus Go Local feature, which locates medical/health services in our local area.

On Saturday, September 26, 2009 the Laredo UT Medical Library from the UT Health Science Center at San Antonio participated in the Gateway Community Health Fun Fest. The UT Medical Library participated with a booth that provided the community with information about the library, hours and our services. We handed out brochures, flyers and pens about MedlinePlus. We mentioned the MedlinePlus Go Local feature to the community, which helps to find medical services in our local area.

Community members were able to take advantage of the free services available at the Health Fair.  A few of the services included vision and glaucoma exams, blood pressure checks, and dental checks for children.  The first 250 children at the health fair were given a free backpack filled with school supplies.